Midwest Player's Classic in La Crosse on January 17 & 18 once again features incredible team and individual talent

The Midwest Player's Classic held this year at the La Crosse Center on Saturday, January 16th and 17th has grown into one of the top in-season basketball events in the state and has expanded into two days, and once again features an incredible mix of team and individual talent.

Bound Wisconsin will have coverage leading up to and throughout the event.

Featuring 15 games and 21 teams in a two-day format, it is a great opportunity to see outstanding teams and players in a single setting. Teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa are represented at the event.

The Midwest Players Classic has seen 20 teams go on to win state championships in their year of participation, as well as more than 60 players go on to play NCAA Division I basketball, and 14 players reach the highest level and compete in the NBA.

General admission tickets can be purchased online through Bound (be sure download the Bound app to have your tickets and all the game info right on your phone). There will also be QR Copes posted in the lobby of the La Crosse Center to purchase mobile tickets. Tickets for Friday night (4 games) are $10 each. Tickets for Saturday (8 games) are $15 each. Student and Senior Citizen (65+) tickets will be $7. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free. Cash is also accepted at the game.

In good news for those fans unable to attend, all games will be streamed live with production and announcers.

Bound Wisconsin staff will be on hand Saturday to provide updates throughout the day as well.

January 16 & 17, 2026
La Crosse Center, La Crosse, WI
(Records & rankings as of 1/13/2026)

Friday, January 16

1:00 pm North Crawford (9-1; D5 #2) vs. Melrose-Mindoro (3-6)
2:30 pm Aquinas (12-2; D3 #5) vs. Saint Croix Central (9-2) (GIRLS)
4:00 pm G-E-T (10-1; D3 #8) vs. Saint Croix Central (6-3)
5:30 pm Aquinas (11-1; D3 #4) vs. Regis (8-1; D4 #6)
7:00 pm Fall Creek (6-1; D4 #7) vs. Mineral Point (5-3)
8:30 pm La Crosse Central (5-2) vs. Little Chute (7-4)

Saturday, January 17

9:15 am Altoona (5-2) vs. Tomah (6-3)
10:45 am Amery (6-4) vs. Holmen (7-4)
12:15 pm River Falls (6-4) vs. Decorah, IA (6-3) Game canceled
1:45 pm Freedom (10-0; D3 #1) vs. Prescott (7-1)
3:15 pm Kaukauna (9-0; D1 #2) vs. Marshfield (9-2)
4:45 pm West Allis Central (9-1; D1 #4) vs. East Ridge, MN (9-3)
6:15 pm Slinger (9-3; D2 #3) vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s, MN (5-5)
7:45 pm Caledonia, MN (8-4) vs. Onalaska (7-0; D2 #1)
9:15 pm Lomira (10-1; D4 #5) vs. Ellsworth (6-3)

Wisconsin rankings based on Bound Wisconsin Media Polls; Minnesota rankings based on Minnesota Basketball News; Iowa rankings based on IHSAA Coaches Poll

North Crawford is one of the top teams in Division 5, ranked second in the most recent media poll. Chris Wettstein’s group is balanced, plays an uptempo style of basketball on both sides of the court and is led by 5-7 senior point guard Cullen Jacobus, the reigning Player of the Year in the Ridge & Valley conference. The Trojans will be coming off a showdown with Kickapoo on Thursday night in a battle of the top two teams in Division 5. Melrose-Mindoro is under the tutelage of a new head coach in David Crowley and field a young group with the top three scorers being sophomores in Wyatt McHugh, Brooks Crowley, and Willard Radcliffe.

Aquinas is a perennial power in girls hoops and are led by Bradley recruit Sammy Davis, younger sister of NBA lottery pick Johnny Davis. Head coach Dave Donarski is one of the best in the state and fields yet another squad that pressures teams defensively and can score it on offense. Saint Croix Central is led by a pair of seniors averaging double-digit points in Sophie Hook and Addison Kofal. The Panthers have held opposing teams to 40 or less points in seven of their eleven games to this point of the season.

Mason Brone is heading to UW-Steven Point next season and is one of the top point guards on the western side of the state, leading a ranked Red Hawks team into La Crosse. Sophomore Talon Fabian is having a breakout season, averaging 16.9 points while senior big man Travis Theisen is threat to get a double-double each night. Saint Croix Central has a trio of seniors that average double-digit scoring, led by Braiden Rasmussen’s 14.8. Tanner Grinnell is a force in the middle, standing 6-9 while Matyas Larson can also light up the scoreboard from all three levels.

Two very good parochial schools square off in the fourth game on Friday as these two squads will do battle in their annual matchup on the La Crosse Center floor. Blugold junior Calvin Bahr is a threat to have a double-double every single night. Senior Logan Becker is the leader and experienced lead guard who is one of the top perimeter defenders while Finn Strom has taken huge strides forward in his overall skillset this season. Regis is led by senior Blake Risler who can go off for 40 on any given night. He can score it from anywhere on the court. Two underclassmen in DJ Cooper (2028) and Bennett Risler (2029) form a really skilled and sound backcourt trio for the Ramblers.

Miles Schmidgall is the junior forward that continues to impress with his improved play on the court, as he averages 14.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game for the Crickets. Head coach Rick Storlie is one of the most experienced in the state and has his squad at 7-1 entering Friday. The Pointers are in a post-Dan Burreson era as the long-time head coach stepped down following last season, with long-time assistant Bret McGraw taking over. Seniors Drew Aschliman and Keaton Dempsey both average around 20 points per game and can light it up from the outside.

Todd Fergot fields a Riverhawks squad that is loaded with upperclassmen that have performed at a high level early in 2025-26. Gave Servais, Anthony Jones, and Joey Pretasky are a trio of senior leaders that can take turns on any night being the go-to scorer for Central. Little Chute travels across the state under the tutelage of Jacob VanRoy. Cooper Effa and Trevor Verhagen are the top two scorers for the Mustangs while sophomore Henry Knudsen is shooting over 57% from the three-point line with 34 makes.

Two really good juniors that have played together on the club scene will do battle in this one as Graysen Becker of Altoona and Quinn Gerke of Tomah square off. Both are extremely skilled at scoring the ball as Becker is currently averaging over 28 points and Gerke over 25 points per game. The supporting casts for both solid as well, as both the Railroades and Timberwolves can score the ball in spades. Having the first game on Saturday morning, it will be interesting to see how that effects the offensive efficiency and energy levels in this one.

Amery junior Keaton Wollan is an incredible athlete that is strong, skilled, and has a high basketball IQ. He’s putting the ball in the hoop at a high rate this season, averaging over 26 points per game. Both Wyatt Hansen (2027) and Regan Granica (2028) score in double digits as well with the Warriors. Holmen can flat out shoot the ball from deep and do a great job of sharing the rock to create great scoring opportunities. Junior Jayden Bartels is coming into his own with the Vikings, leading the team at 12.8 points per game. Alex Berget (2026), Cohen Kendhammer (2028), and Jax Meyer (2027) all average double-digit points for head coach Ryan Meyer.

Freedom is the top-ranked team in Division 3 and were a state tournament team a season ago. The top ranked junior in the state Donovan Davis is must see basketball as he’s one of the most complete players with a list of high level Division 1 collegiate offers. Head coach Andrew Gibbons’ squad is balanced behind Davis and utilize a 1-3-1 zone to create ample turnovers and transition scoring opportunities. Nick Johnson has done a great job of keeping Prescott competitive year after year and has built a program that is one of the best in Division 3. Kobe Russell, a North Dakota State football recruit, is a strong and heady guard that sets the tone on both ends of the floor for the Cardinals.

Two of the top big men in the state will take the floor in this one as Marshfield is a state-tournament team from a season ago led by Wyoming commit Chris Pohl. The Tigers are long, athletic, and under the direction of Chris Fischer know how to keep games competitive and close. DePaul commit Andrew Jensen is a game changing forward that runs like a gazelle, plays well in space and near the rim, and is a deterrent around the rim on defense. Underclassmen Tyler Schwalbach (2028) and Drew Bowers (2029) are intriguing young players for first-year head coach Ryan Bowers as he leads his squad into this one with an unblemished record.

There is no shortage of talent when these two teams square off on Saturday afternoon. West Allis Central is one of the more loaded teams in the entire state in terms of individual talent. Yusef Gray Jr. is a top contender for Mr. Basketball in the state and committed to Iowa State next season. Kevin Pittman stands at 6-11 and holds a Division 1 offer from Western Michigan. Juniors Max Jones, Isaiah Fox, and Caiden Davis are three more next level prospects that add skill, ball-handling, and athleticism on the wings. For East Ridge, they are led by Minnesota recruit Cedric Tomes, a 6-0 lightning quick point guard that is ranked third in the Class of 2026 in Minnesota.

Slinger has a strong group of high IQ players with some top end talent and great size across its rotation. Junior Jack Kohnen already holds offers from eight high level colleges including in-state Marquette and Wisconsin. Younger brother and sophomore Joey has also been offered by Wisconsin and a pair of other Division 1 schools in just his sophomore campaign. Head coach Alex Lavine’s group behind those two is savvy, athletic, and unselfish. Benilde-St. Margaret’s won 26 games a season ago and comes into this one 5-6.

Onalaska is one of the few unbeaten teams left in the state and the top ranked team in Division 2 in the latest media poll. Head coach Craig Kowal’s squad is deep, skilled, and plays with a high IQ collectively on the court. His senior son Tyler is the leader of the group and an extension of him on the floor. The younger son Ian and Gavin McRoberts are two very good sophomores that are also coaches kids that though may be underclassmen, play with the poise and understanding of players older than them. Caledonia is a perennially a very good team in Minnesota and comes into Saturday with an 8-4 record. Head coach Brad King always has his teams prepared and fundamentally sound on the court.

Lomira is a top team in Division 4, led by senior 6-9 forward Jake Broeske. First-year head coach Nick Kohler has a guard group around Broeske that plays hard, can score the ball in transition or the half court, and defends at a high level. The Lions will square off with an Ellsworth team that competes in an incredibly challenging Middle Border conference. Senior George Rohl averages 15.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and is most effective in and around the rim, though he is shooting 47.1% from three on the year. The Panthers are a senior-led group that has played plenty of basketball together of the the past eight or more years.